Device for dispensing water or fabric conditioning substances in clothes washers



July 2, 1963 D. FOX 3,095,722

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING WATER 0R FABRIC CONDITIONING SUBSTANCES IN CLOTHESWASHERS Filed June 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DONALD L. FOX

AT TO RNE Y July 2, 1963 D L Fox 3 095,722

DEVICE FOR DISPENSING WATER OR FABRIC CONDITIONIN SUBSTANCES IN CLOTHESWASHERS Filed June 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DONALD L. FOX

AT TORNE X '3,09S,722 DEVICE FOR DISPENSING WATER OR FABRIC CONDITIONINGSUBSTANCES IN CLOTHES WASHERS This invention rel-ates generally to theintroduction into clothes washers of either water or fabric conditioningor softening substances.

Many substances, either in liquid or powdered form, are now commerciallyavailable for use during the laundering of clothes and other fabricarticles for either conditioning or softening the water, or for treatingthe fabric so as to obtain either improved cleansing of the fabric orother desirable characteristics, such as softening of the fabric. Whenclothes or other fabric articles are laundered in automatic clotheswashers which follow a prescribed operating cycle including washing,rinsing and spin-drying phases, it is necessary that the previouslymentioned commercially available water or fabric conditioning orsoftening substances be introduced into the deep rinse water whichenters the clothes washing machine approximately midway through theoperating cycle.

Thus, the efficient use of the available water or fabric I conditioningor softening substances requires that the housewife continuously observethe automatic operation of the clothes Washer so as to ascertain whenthe deep rinse water is introduced, at which time the conditioning orsoftening substance is manually introduced for mixture with such water.The necessity of continuing to observe the operation of the clothesWasher is obviously undesirable in that it deprives the user of the mainadvantage of the automatic operation of modern clothes washers,

namely, the possibility of performing other chores without attention tothe clothes washer until the laundry operation has been completed.Accordingly, the above mentioned available water or fabric conditioningor softening substances have not enjoyed the extent of public acceptancethat one might expect fromtheir otherwise desirable properties.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which maybe either permanently or temporarily installed within a clothes washerand which automatically operates to introduce the avail-able water orfabric conditioning or softening substances into the deep rinse water.

Another object is to provide a device of the described character whichis adapted for use in either tumbling or agitator type clothes washers.

A further object is to provide a device of the described character whichis automatically operative to dispense either liquid or powdered wateror fabric conditioning or softening substances.

Still another object is to provide a device of the described characterwhich can be conveniently installed as an accessory or attachment inexisting clothes washers.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a device for dispensingwater or fabric conditioning or softening substances into the deep rinsewater of an automatic clothes washer includes a housing which isconveniently mounted within the tub of the clothes Washer and adapted tocontain a charge of the water or fabric conditioning of softeningsubstance to be introduced, and a valve assembly which normally preventsthe escape of such substance from the housing and which is conditioned,in response to the centrifugal force resulting from the short spin cyclewhich precedes the introduction of the deep rinse water in all existingautomatic clothes washers, so as to permit the escape of the containedsubstance from United States Patent ice the housing when suchcentrifugal force is removed upon the introduction of the deep rinsewater following the short spin cycle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing defines a firstchamber initially containing the charge of conditioning or softeningsubstance and having a first opening communicating with a second chamberwhich, in turn, has a second opening extending to the exterior of thehousing, and the valve assembly initially closes the first opening tocontain the charge within the first chamber and, in response tocentrifugal force during the spin cycle preceding the introduction ofthe deep rinse water, is moved to a position Where the valve assemblyuncovers the first opening and closes the second opening so that thecharge can fiow from the first chamber into the second chamber duringsuch spin cycle, while the removal of the elevated centrifugal forcepermits the valve assembly to be resiliently urged to an intermediateposition in which the first and second openings of the housing are bothsubstantially open or uncovered to permit the charge to be dispensed ordischarged through the second opening into the deep rinse water.

Further, in accordance with an important feature of the device embodyingthis invention, the latter is constructed and arranged so that, in aclothes washer of either the tumbling or agitator type, the housing iscontacted with the deep rinse water during the discharge or dispensingof the charge of conditioning or softening substance into the water, andfurther the housing is designed to ensure the flushing of the entirecharge therefrom.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which a devicefor dispensing water or fabric conditioning or softening substances inaccordance with the present invention is installed in a clothes washerof the tumbling type;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the device of FIG. 1, but witha hood forming a removable part of such device being cut away and insection;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the device embodying the invention, asviewed in the direction of the arrows 3-3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion 0 mounting of thedevice in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 on FIG. 3, andshowing a valve assembly included in the device in its initial positionafter the device has received a charge of water or fabric conditioningor softening substance which is to be dispensed or discharged into thedeep rinse water in a clothes washer;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the housing of thedevice in section, as in FIG. 5, and illustrating the displacement ofthe valve assembly by centrifugal force during the brief spin cyclewhich precedes the introduction of the deep rinse water into the clotheswasher;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 5, but showing thevalve assembly in the position which it occupies during dispensing ordischarging of the water or fabric conditioning or softening substanceinto the deep rinse water in the clothes washer;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating theinstallation of the device embodying the present invention in a clotheswasher of the agitator type; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along FIGS. 2 and 3thereof, it will be seen that a device for dispensing water or fabricconditioning or softening substances in accordance with the presentinvention, and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10,includes a housing 11 and a frame 12 by which such housing is suspendedWithin the tub of an automatic clothes washer.

The housing 11 is preferably of generally rounded configuration andincludes body portions 13 and 14 which are normally disposed at the topand bottom, respectively, of the housing, as in FIGS 2, 3, and 7, andwhich are preferably molded or otherwise formed from a suitably rigidplastic, such as, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, phenolformaldehydes or urea formaldehydes. Upper body portion 13 generallyincludes a substantially hemispherical outer wall 15, an inner wall 16spaced from wall so as to define an insulating air space 17therebetween, and a radial flange 18 joining together the walls 15 and16 at the bottom of body portion 13. The inner wall 16 of body portion13 defines a first cahmber 19 which is intended to initially receive acharge of water or fabric conditioning or softening substance, either inpowdered or liquid form, as shown in FIG. 5.

The body portion 14, which normally appears at the bottom of housing 11,includes a side wall 20 preferably shaped as a continuation of thecontour of outer wall 15 of body portion 13 and extending from theperiphery of a bottom wall 21 which, as shown particularly in FIGS. 2and 3, preferably has the shape of a section of a cylindrical surfacewith a radius of curvature substantially corresponding to that of theside wall of the tub of existing automatic clothes washers, for apurpose hereinafter described in detail. A flange 22 is directedradially inward from the upper edge of side wall 20 and is joined to aninner cylindrical wall 23 which, as shown in FIG. 5, extends upwardlyand downwardly with respect to flange 22. The bottom edge of innercylindrical wall 23 is spaced from side wall 20 and bottom wall 21 so asto permit communicaiton between the inner space or chamber 24 surroundedby cylindrical wall 23 and the annular space 25 which is defined betweenside wall 20 and the lower portion of wall 23.

The upper portion of cylindrical wall 23 extending above flange 22 isexternally threaded for meshing engagement, as at 26, with internalthreads formed in the lower cylindrical portion of inner wall 16 of bodyportion 13, whereby the body portions 13 and 14 are releasably securedtogether. The flange 18 of upper body portion 13 is preferably formedwith a rim 27 projecting therefrom along its inner periphery and beingengageable with a sealing ring 28 of rubber or the like which isadhesively secured on the upper surface of flange 22 immediatelyadjacent cylindrical wall 23 so that the engagement of rim 27 withsealing ring 28, as in FIG. 5, spaces flange 18 from flange 22 andfurther provides a water-tight seal between body portions 13 and 14 toprevent the entry of water into the first chamber 19 through theengaging threads 26.

An annular top wall 29 extends radially inward from the top edge ofcylindrical wall 23 and defines a central opening in which a ring 30 ofrubber or other resilient material is adhesively secured to define afirst valve seat, while the bottom wall 21 of body portion 14 has acentral opening in which a resilient ring 31 is also adhesively securedto define a second valve seat. It will be apparent that, when bodyportions 13 and 14 are assembled together, as in the drawings, theopening surrounded by first valve seat 30 provides communication betweenthe first chamber 19 within inner wall 16 of body portion 13 and asecond chamber defined by the internal space 24 of body portion 14,while the second chamber 24 opens to the outside of housing ll throughthe opening surrounded by the second valve seat 31. Further, the flange22 of l wer body portion 14 is formed with a series of openings 32therein, and since flanges 18 and 22 are spaced apart by the cooperativeengagement of rim 27 with seal 28, the annular space 25 Wit i bodyportion 14 can communicate with the exterior of housing 11 throughopenings 32.

Housing 11 further contains a valve assembly 33 that includes a firstvalve body 34 dimensioned so as to have a frictional fit within thefirst valve seat 30 and tapering into a slender extension 35 projectingin the direction toward the first chamber 19 and terminating in agitatorfins 36. Valve assembly 33 further includes a second, generallyhemispherical valve body 37 joined to valve body 34 at the side of thelatter facing away from extension 35 and being adapted to seat on thesecond valve seat 31. A radially directed flange 38 extends outwardlyfrom valve body 37 and has a depending peripheral rim 39, and -a lighthelical spring 40 bears, at one end, against flange 38 within rim 39 andis suitably secured, at its other end, to the bottom wall 21 of bodyportion 14 around valve seat 31.

Spring 40 is dimensioned so that it is adapted to resiliently supportvalve assembly 33 in an intermediate position shown in FIG. 7, wherevalve bodies 34 and 37 are both removed from valve seats 30 and 31,respectively and extension 35 projects loosely through the openingsurrounded by valve seat 30 to dispose the agitator fins 36 withinchamber 19. With valve assembly 33 in the intermediate position of FIG.7, it will be apparent that chambers 19 and 24 are in communication witheach other, and chamber 24 opens to the exterior of housing 11 throughthe opening surrounded by valve seat 31. Although spring 40 is adaptedto support valve assembly 33 in the intermediate position shown in FIG.7, it is to be understood that spring 40 can be stretched, as in FIG. 5,to permit frictional engagement of valve body 34 within walve seat 30,and that the frictional resistance to removal of valve body 34 fromvalve seat 30 is sufiicient to overcome the force of spring 40 tendingto return the valve assembly to its intermediate position. Further, itis to be understood that valve assembly 33 can be moved against theresistance of spring 40, as hereinafter described in detail, to engagevalve body 37 against valve seat 31, as in FIG. 6, in which case spring40 is substantially compressed within the space between bottom wall 21and flange 38 of the valve assembly, while the end of extension 35 stillprojects into the opening surrounded by valve seat 30 so as to continueto ensure the proper alignment of valve assembly 33 with valve seats 30and 31. The frame 12 is preferably formed of a length of resilrent orspring wire which is suitably bent to provide side members 41 and 42joined together, at one end, by a cross member 43, and having theiropposite ends integral with reverted, converging members 44 and 45,respectively, which lie in a plane at an acute angle to the planecontaming side members 41 and 42. The adjacent ends of converglngmembers 44 and 45 are pivotally connected as by a metal loop 46, andextend into diverging members 47 and 48, respectively, which are at agreater angle with respect to the plane of sidemembers 41 and 42 andWhl'Ch terminate in inwardly bent pivot definingend members 49 and 50(FIG. 3).

The end portions of'side members 41 and 42 adjacent to convergingmembers 44 and 45 have inwardly bent hook members 51 soldered, welded orotherwise secured thereto to extend into the usual perforations in theside wall of the rotary tub of an automatic clothes washer for mountingthe frame 12 in such tub. The housing 11 has diametrically opposedsockets 52 (FIG. 2) in its upper body portion 13 to receive the pivotdefining end members 49 and 50 of frame 12, whereby housing 11 srotatably suspended from the frame. The housing 11 is constructed andits sockets 52 are located so that the center of gravity of housing 11is spaced substantially from its p vot ng aXis defined by end members 49and 50 in the direction toward body portion 14, whereby housmg 11normally tends to hang from frame 12 with its relative to each other atthe loop 46 to urge the endp'ortions of side members 41 and 42 carryinghook members 51 toward each other. Since hook members 51 are benttowards each other, the described inward movement of the related endportions of side members 41 and 42 will tend to prevent inadvertentwithdrawal of the hook members 51 from the perforations of the tub.

When the device embodying the present invention is to be employed in aclothes washer of the tumbling type, that is, a clothes washer of thekind having a tub which is rotated about a horizontal axis during thewashing and rinsing cycles, as well as during the spinning extract-ingor drying cycles, the device 10 further includes a removable hoodpreferably formed of a suitably rigid plastic and generally identifiedby the reference numeral 53 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6). The hood 53 isremovably mounted on frame 12, as hereinafter described in detail, andincludes a bulbous, generally hemispherical portion 54 (FIGS. 2 and 6)having a sufficiently large radius of curvature to provide a substantialclearance with respect to pivotally mounted housing 11 so that thelatter can rotate within hood 53, and a skirt portion 55 extending fromthe hemispherical or bulbous portion '54 and formed with a cutout 56intended to open in the direction opposed to the rotation of the tubwhen device 10 is installed in a tumbling type clothes washer.

In order to mount hood 53 on frame 12, a side edge of the skirt portion55 of the hood has a pair of bent wire resilient hinge barrels 57 (FIGS.3 and 4) extending therefrom and being only partly closed to sli-dablyand releasably embrace side member 41 of frame 12so that .hood. 53 isswingable relative to frame 12 about the axis of side member 41 and alsois bodily movable relative to the frame to a limited extent in thedirection of the axis of side member 41. Further, hood 53 is removablefrom frame 12 by forcing side member 41 of the frame radially out of theresilient, partly closed hinge barrels 57.

In order to retain hood 53 in the operative position of FIGS. 2 and 3relative to frame 12, skirt portion 55 of the hood is further formedwith an internal hook-like projection 58 which is adapted to normallyextend between converging members 44 and 45 of the frame and then aroundmember 44, thereby to hold the hood against swinging relative to theframe. However, hook-like projection 58 of the hood can be disengagedfrom member 44 of the frame by displacing hood 53 relative to frame 12in the upward direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is, in thedirection'of the longitudinal axis of side member 41 of the frame. Afterhook-like projection 58 of the hood has been released from member 44 ofthe frame,

hood 53 can be pivoted relative to frame 12 so as to uncover housing 11and thereby facilitate the introduction of a charge of water or fabricconditioning or softening substance into housing 11.

When the device 10 is to be used in a tumbling type clothes washer, theframe 12 of the device has its hook members 51 engaged in perforationsof the clothes washer tub 59 so as to locatethe frame immediately inback of one of the usual vanes 60 of the tub, considered in the.direction of rotation of the latter, as in FIG. 1. By reason of suchlocation of device 10, the tumbling clothes in tub 59 are, for the mostpart, thrown clear of device 10, while the housing '11 and frame 12 ofthe latter are protected from entanglement with, or the impact of acharge of the desired water or fabric conditioning shown in FIG. 5 wherevalve body 34 is frictionally held in valve seat 30. Thus, when bodyportions 13 and 14 are screwed together, valve assembly 33 is disposedto seal the water or fabric conditioning or softening sub stance withinchamber 19. With housing 11 pivotally mounted in frame 12, hood 53 islocked or secured in its operative protective position by engagement ofhook-like projection 58 of the hood with member 44 of the frame.

During the washing cycle of the tumbling type clothes washer, device 10repeatedly passes through the washing water, but the charge of water orfabric conditioning or softening substance is retained within chamber 19by valve assembly 33, and thus isolated from the washing water.

At the conclusion of the washing cycle, the tub 59 undergoes the usualbrief high-speed spinning cycle for extracting the soapy and dirt-ladenwashing water from the tub. During such brief high-speed spining cycle,a correspondingly high centrifugal force is encountered and is effectiveto pivot housing 11 relative to frame 12 to the position shown in FIG. 6that is, 'a position where the axis of symmetry of housing 11 isdirected radially with respect to the axis of rotation of tub 59, andthe high centrifugal force further acts on valve assembly 33 to displacethe latter radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation of thetub, whereby the frictional resistance to movement of valve assembly 33is overcome and valve body 34 is withdrawn from seat 30 while,simultaneously, valve body 37 is engaged with seat 31, as shown in FIG.6. Thus, communication is opened between chambers 19 and 24, and atleast a major portion of the charge of water or fabric conditioning orsoftening substance passes from chamber 19 into chamber 24 where it isretained by reason of the engagement of valve body 37 with seat 31.

At the conclusion of the above mentioned usual brief spinning cycle,rotation of tub 59 is again slowed and the deep rinse water enters thetub. By reason of the reduced centrifiugal force acting on housing 11and on valve assembly 33 in the latter, the housing 11 is free to returnto its normal position in which its axis of symmetry extendssubstantially vertically, while spring 40 can lift valve assembly 33 tothe intermediate position shown in FIG. 7 where valve bodies 34 and 37are both re moved from seats 30* and 31, respectively, and extension 35projects substantially into housing 19. Thus, communication remains openbetween chambers 19 and 24 while the latter chamber is open to theexterior of the housing through both the openings 32 and the openingsurrounded by valve seat 31. As housing 11 repeatedly passes through theintroduced deep rinse water, such the entire charge of Water or fabricconditioning or softening substance from the chamber 24 of body portion14 of housing 11.

It will be apparent that, during the repeated passage of housing 11through the deep rinse water, the hon-sing is rocked or agitated, andthe resilient support for valve assembly 33 provided by spring 40permits the valve assembly to vibrate so that the extension 35 and theagitator vanes 36 at the upper end thereof act on any of theconditioning or softening substance remaining in chamber 19 to break-upany conglomerations thereof and thereby ensure the free passage of theentire charge of such substance into chamber 24.

' In order to prevent excessive tumbling or pivoting of housing 11 asthe latter is repeatedly passed through the deep rinse water, housing 11preferably has downwardly and outwardly extending stabilizing vanes 61projecting from upper body portion 13. Whenever the action of the deeprinse water on housing 11 tends to excessively pivot the latter from itssubstantially vertical position, the vane 61 at the downwardly movingside of the housing acts against the water to resist such pivotingmovement. Thus, housing 11 remains more or less substantially erectduring the dispensing of the conditioning or softening substancetherefrom.

Since the device is intended for use in'dispensing powdered substances,as well as liquid substances, it is imperative that valve seat and theside of flange 29 facing toward chamber 19, as well as the rest of theinterior surface of the latter, be maintained in an absolutely drycondition so as to prevent the caking of the powdered substance withinchamber 19. In the above described embodiment of the invention, thisnecessary condition is obtained by the water-tight seal between bodyportions 13 and 14 provided at the line of engagement of rim 27 withsealing ring 28, and further by positioning valve seat 30 and flange 29substantially above flange 22 having the openings 32 therein so that,when water flushes through the lower body portion 14 of the housing,such water cannot rise to the level of flange 29 and seat 30 against thepressure of the air trapped in chamber 19. Further, the adaptability ofdevice 10 to the dispensing of powdered substances is ensured by thesealed air-containing insulating space 17 surrounding charnber 19 toprevent sweating of the inner surfaces of wall 16.

When the device 10 embodying this invention is to be used in a clotheswasher of the agitator type, as in FIG. 8, the protective hood 53 may beremoved from frame 12 by disengaging the resilient, partly closed hingebarrels 57 from side member 41 of the frame, and the latter is .mountedagainst the cylindrical side wall of the tub 62 adjacent the top of thelatter, by engaging the hook membcls 51 in the usual apertures providedin such side wall. Since tub 62 is rotatable about a vertical axis,mounting of the device 10 in the indicated position near the top of theside wall will hold housing 11 and frame 12 out of possible contact withthe clothes or with the central agitator (not shown) during the washingcycle.

In adapting device It) for use in an agitator type clothes washer, aninsert 63 is installed in each socket 52 of housing 11. As is apparentin FIGS. 8 and 9, each insert 63 includes a cylindrical body 64 slidablyreceived in the related socket 52 and defining a shallow concave seat 65at its outer end for releasably receiving the related pivot defining endmember 49 or 50 of frame 12. In order to hold body 64 in socket 52,insert 63 further includes a hairpin spring clip 66 which is soldered,welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of body 64 and which hasresilient legs engaging releasably under wings 67 molded on top bodyportion 13 at the ends of vanes 61.

By reason of the engagement of pivot defining end members 49 and 50 offrame 12 with the concave seats 65 of inserts 63, housing 11 ispivotally suspended from frame 12, but can be removed from the latter byan increased force acting on housing 11 parallel to its axis of symmetryin the direction toward lower body portion 14.

When using device 10 in an agitator type clothes washer, the charge ofwater or fabric conditioning or softening substance to be dispensed isplaced in chamber 19 of housing 11 and valve assembly 33 is initiallymanually set, as in the previous description of the operation of thedevice in a tumbling type clothes washer, so that the substance to bedispensed is retained in chamber 19 during the washing cycle. When thetub 62 of the agitator type clothes washer is rotated about its verticalaxis at a high speed during the short spin cycle preceding theintroduction of the deep rinse water, the high centrifugal force actingon housing 11 initially pivots the latter relative to frame 12 asthatthe axis of symmetry of the housing extends radially with respect to thevertical axis of rotation of the tub, and the high centrifugal forcethen pulls housing 11 radially outward against the cylindrical side wallof tub 62 to the position shown in broken lines at'11 on FIG. 8, wherebythe concave seats 65 of inserts 63 are released from the pivot definingend members 49 and 50 of frame 12. During the short, high speed spincycle, the housing of device 10 remains against the side wall of the tubin the position 11', and engagement of the arcuate surface 21 of bodyportion 14 of the housing 11 with the inner surface of the cylindricalside wall of tub 62 ensures that the axis of symmetry of housing 11 willremain radially directed with respect to the axis of rotation of thetub. The high centrifugal force which effects movement of the housing tothe position 11 also effects displacement of the valve assembly 33 tothe position thereof shown in FIG. 6, that is, to the position whereinvalve body 34- is disengaged from seat 30 and valve body 37 engages seat31 to permit the substance to be dispensed to pass from chamber 19 intochamber 24.

At the conclusion of the brief high speed spin cycle, that is, when thedeep rinse water is being introduced into tub 62, the high centrifugalforce is relieved from the housing 11 so that the latter, being freefrom frame 12, falls to the bottom of vtu-b 62 to float in the deeprinse water. Housing 11 is suitably weighted so that it will float withthe body portion 14 lowermost, and balancing of the housing in thisbuoyant position is further ensured by the fact that the sealed aircontaining space 17 is provided in upper body portion 13. As housing 11floats in the deep rinse water, excessive rocking thereof is resisted bythe projecting vanes 61, and water flushes through the interior of bodyportion '14 to wash the charge of water or fabric conditioning orsoftening substance therefrom while valve assembly 33 is resilientlysupported by spring 40 in the position illustrated in FIG. 7.

From the above description of an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that a device has been provided forautomatically dispensing either liquid or powdered substances into thedeep rinse water in automatic clothes Washers of either the tumbling oragitator type so that the benefits of the described treating substancesmay be obtained without requiring any supervision of the automaticoperation of the washer.

.Further, such device may be made apermanent part of substance into thedeep rinse water in an automatic clothes washer having a tub which isrotated at high speed for a brief spin cycle prior to the introductionof the deep rinse water; said device comprising a support adapted to besecured to the side wall of the tub of a clothes washer, a housingpivotally suspended in said support and defining first and secondchambers, said housing tending to maintain said second chamber belowsaid first chamber and having a first opening between said first andsecond chambers and a second opening between said second opening and theexterior of the housing and normally disposed at the bottom of saidhousing, a valve assembly movable in said housing and operative toinitially close said first opening for retaining a charge of treatingsubstance initially placed in said first chamber, said valve assemblybeing displaced by centrifugal force acting thereon during thehigh-speed spin cycle prior to the introduction of the deep rinse waterto open said first opening and close said second opening so that thecharge of treating substance can enter said second chamber, andresilient means acting on said valve assembly to urge the latter to anintermediate position where both said first and second openings are openwhen the centrifugal force is removed at the conclusion of the spincycle so that the charge of treating substance can discharge from saidsecond chamber and mix with the introduced deep rinse water.

2. A device as in claim 1; wherein said housing has additional openingsextending from said second chamber so that, when said second opening isopen, water can flush through said second opening and said additionalopenings to ensure the removal of the entire charge of treatingsubstance from said second chamber.

3. A device as in claim 2; wherein said additional openings are spaceddownwardly from said first opening in the normal position of saidhousing and the latter further has a downwardly directed wall in saidsecond chamber between said first opening and said additional openingsto prevent the rise of water in said second chamber to said firstopening and into said first chamber, whereby the inter-ior of the latterand the periphery of said first opening remain dry to prevent cloggingof powdered treating substance initial-1y contained therein.

4. A device as in claim 3; wherein said housing has an outer wall and aninner wall spaced from the latter to define an insulating spacetherebetween around said first chamber for preventing sweating of thesurfaces of said first chamber.

5. A device as in claim 3; wherein said housing includes separablyjoined together upper and lower body portions defining said first andsecond chambers, respectively, and cooperating sealing means on saidbody portions providing a watertight joint between the latter so as toprevent the seepage of water into said first chamher.

6. A device as in claim 1; further comprising a removable hood mountedon said support and partly enveloping said housing with substantialclearance therebetween to permit pivotal movement of said housingrelative to said support and access of water to said housing whileprotecting the latter from contact with laundry in the tub of theclothes washer.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein said housing further has stabilizingvanes projecting from the exterior surface thereof to resist excessivetilting of the housing by the action of water thereagainst.

8-. A device as in claim 1; wherein said valve assembly includes anelongated extension projecting through said first opening in allpositions of the valve assembly and operative to prevent clogging of thetreating substance in said first opening when said valve assembly is insaid intermediate position.

9. A device as in claim 1; wherein said support includes a spring Wireframe having -free end members which are urged apart to pivotallysuspend said housing therebetween and hook members which are adapted toengage perforations in the side wall of the clothes washer tub and whichare urged toward each other, in response to movement away from eachother of said free end members, so as to prevent inadvertent removal ofsaid hook members from the perforations.

10. A device as in claim 9; further comprising a hood removablyswingable on said spring wire frame to move relative to the latterbetween an operative position, where said hood partly envelops saidhousing with substantial clearance therebetween to permit pivotalmovement of the housing and access of Water to the latter whileprotecting the housing from contact with laundry in the tub, and aloading position where said housing is substantially uncovered, andmeans on said hood engageable with said spring Wire frame to releasablyhold said hood in said operative position.

11. A device as in claim 9; wherein said housing has diametricallyopposed, outwardly opening sockets therein receiving said free endmembers of the spring wire frame for pivotally suspending said housingin the latter.

12. The combination of an automatic clothes washer of the tumbling typehaving a tub rotated about a horizontal axis and undergoing a high-speedspin cycle prior to introduction of deep rinse water therein; and adevice for dispensing Water or fabric treating sub-stance into the deeprinse water comprising a frame mounted Within said tub, a housingrotatably mounted in said frame and tending to maintain an erectposition within said tub, said housing defining a first chamber adaptedto initially receive a charge of the treating substance and a secondchamber which is disposed below said first chamber in said erectposition of the housing, said housing having a first opening betweensaid first and second chambers and a second opening extending from saidsecond chamber to the exterior of the housing, a valve assemblyinitially closing said first opening to retain the charge of treatingsubstance in said first chamber and being displaced by the centrifugalforce acting thereon during the high-speed spin cycle preceding theintroduction of the deep rinse water to open said first opening andclose said second opening, whereby the charge of treating substance canenter said second chamber, and resilient means acting on said valveassembly to urge the latter to an intermediate position clearing bothsaid first and second openings upon the removal of the centrifugal forceat the conclusion of the high-speed spin cycle so that the charge oftreating substance can then be discharged from said second chamber formixture with the introduced deep rinse Water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,522,242 Wagner Sept. 12, 1950 2,956,709 Nison Oct. 18, 1960 2,967,416Devery Jan. 10, 1961

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A WATER OR FABRIC TREATING SUBSTANCE INTO THEDEEP RINSE WATER IN AN AUTOMTIC CLOTHES WASHER HAVING A TUB WHICH ISROTATED AT HIGH SPEED FOR A BRIEF SPIN CYCLE PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTIONOF THE DEEP RINSE WATER; SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BESECURED TO THE SIDE WALL OF THE TUB OF A CLOTHES WASHER, A HOUSINGPIVOTALLY SUSPENDED IN SAID SUPPORT AND DEFINING FIRST AND SECONDCHAMBERS, SAID HOUSING TENDING TO MAINTAIN SAID SECOND CHAMBER BELOWSAID FIRST CHAMBER AND HAVING A FIRST OPENING BETWEEN SAID FIRST ANDSECOND CHAMBERS AND A SECOND OPENING BETWEEN SAID SECOND OPENING AND THEEXTERIOR OF THE HOUSING AND NORMALLY DISPOSED AT THE BOTTOM OF SAIDHOUSING, A VALVE ASSEMBLY MOVABLE IN SAID HOUSING AND OPERATIVE TOINITIALLY CLOSE SAID FIRST OPENING FOR RETAINING A CHARGE OF TREATINGSUBSTANCE INITIALLY PLACED IN SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLYBEING DISPLACED BY CENTRIFUGAL FORCE ACTING THEREON DURING THEHIGH-SPEED SPIN CYCLE PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DEEP RINSE WATERTO OPEN SAID FIRST OPENING AND CLOSE SAID SECOND OPENING SO THAT THECHARGE OF TREATING SUBSTANCE CAN ENTER SAID SECOND CHAMBER, ANDRESILIENT MEANS ACTING ON SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY TO URGE THE LATTER TO ANINTERMEDIATE POSITION WHERE BOTH SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS ARE OPENWHEN THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE IS REMOVED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SPINCYCLE SO THAT THE CHARGE OF TREATING SUBSTANCE CAN DISCHARGE FROM SAIDSECOND CHAMBER AND MIX WITH THE INTRODUCED DEEP RINSE WATER.